NASA suspends Orion space capsule test in ocean

Feb. 21, 2014 - 01:16PM
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Crews work on a test version of Orion's forward bay cover, NASA's next-generation space capsule, on Wednesday. NASA and the Navy suspended the test on Thursday, off the coast of San Diego after a problem was discovered. (AP)

SAN DIEGO — NASA has scrubbed a test off the California coast involving recovery of a mock-up of its newest space capsule after it was discovered that the cables weren’t strong enough to handle the turbulence.

In a statement Friday, the space agency said crews had trouble tying down the Orion capsule inside the well deck of the USS San Diego during Thursday’s exercise. It was not clear when it would be rescheduled.

Orion is designed to carry astronauts into deep space and return to Earth by splashing down into the ocean, similar to a technique used in the 1960s and 1970s before the space shuttle era.

NASA and the Navy have been practicing for the recovery of Orion, which will make its first unmanned flight this fall.